Decoloring device, image processing system, and decoloring method

ABSTRACT

According to one embodiment, a decoloring device includes a reading unit, a decoloring unit, and a control unit. The reading unit is configured to read control information from a first image formed in a predetermined area of a sheet. The decoloring unit is configured to decolor a portion or entirety of a second image, different from the first image, formed on the sheet using a decolorable recording material. The control unit is configured to control erasing of the data of the second image from a storage device, based on the control information, in a case where the decoloring unit decolors the second image.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

This application is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No.15/279,064, filed on Sep. 28, 2016, the entire contents of which areincorporated herein by reference.

FIELD

Embodiments described herein relate generally to a decoloring device, animage processing system, and a decoloring method.

BACKGROUND

In order to reuse a sheet by decoloring an image formed on the sheet, adevice is used which forms an image on the sheet using a decolorablecoloring agent. Data of an image to be formed on the sheet may be storedin a storage device, and may remain in the storage device after theimage is formed.

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a configuration diagram of an image processing systemaccording to an embodiment.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the image forming device whoseconfiguration is illustrated in FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is a functional configuration diagram of the image forming deviceof FIG. 2.

FIG. 4 is a functional configuration diagram of a decoloring deviceaccording to an embodiment.

FIG. 5 is a schematic diagram of a decoloring device according to anembodiment.

FIG. 6 is a functional configuration diagram of a server device.

FIG. 7 is a sequence diagram illustrating an operation of the imageforming device and the server device.

FIG. 8 is a diagram illustrating an example of an image which is formedby a printer unit.

FIG. 9 is a diagram illustrating an example of an information tablewhich is stored in a storage unit.

FIG. 10 is a sequence diagram illustrating an operation of thedecoloring device and the server device.

FIG. 11 is a diagram illustrating an example of a query image whichqueries a user on whether or not to erase image information.

FIG. 12 is a diagram schematically illustrating the information table ina case where the image information is erased.

FIG. 13 is a sequence diagram illustrating an operation of an imageforming device and a server device according to a second embodiment.

FIG. 14 is a diagram illustrating an example of an information tablewhich is stored in a storage unit.

FIG. 15 is a diagram illustrating examples of sheets which are used in athird embodiment.

FIG. 16 is a sequence diagram illustrating an operation of a decoloringdevice according to the third embodiment.

FIG. 17 is a sequence diagram illustrating an operation of a decoloringdevice according to a fourth embodiment.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION First Embodiment

According to one embodiment a decoloring device includes a reading unit,a decoloring unit, and a control unit. The reading unit is configured toread control information from a first image formed in a predeterminedarea of a sheet. The decoloring unit is configured to decolor a portionor entirety of a second image, different from the first image, formed onthe sheet using a decolorable recording material. The control unit isconfigured to control erasing of the data of the second image from astorage device, based on the control information, in a case where thedecoloring unit decolors the second image.

Hereinafter, a decoloring device, an image processing system, and adecoloring method according to the embodiment will be described withreference to the accompanying drawings.

FIG. 1 is a configuration diagram of an image processing system 1according to an embodiment.

The image processing system 1 includes an image forming device 100, adecoloring device 200, a server device 300, and a terminal device 400.The image forming device 100, the decoloring device 200, the serverdevice 300, and the terminal device 400 are communicably connected toeach other through a network NW. The network NW is an informationcommunication network such as the Internet or the Local Area Network(LAN). The image processing system 1 may include multiple image formingdevices 100, multiple decoloring devices 200, multiple server devices300, and multiple terminal devices 400.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the image forming device 100 accordingto the embodiment. The image forming device 100 is, for example, amultifunction peripheral. The image forming device 100 includes adisplay 110, a control panel 120, a printer unit 130, and a sheetcontaining portion 140. The printer unit 130 of the image forming device100 may be an electronic photographic device which fixes a toner image,or may be an inkjet device.

The image forming device 100 generates image information by reading animage from a sheet, thereby generating an image file. In addition, theimage forming device 100 generates an image file based on the image datatransmitted from the terminal device 400 through the network NW. Thesheet is, for example, manuscripts, paper on which characters, images,or the like are described, or anything having an image readable by theimage forming device 100.

The display 110 is an image display device such as a liquid crystaldisplay or an organic electro luminescence (EL) display. The display 110displays various types of information on the image forming device 100.

The control panel 120 includes multiple buttons. The control panel 120is a portion that a user manipulates. The control panel 120 transmits asignal, according to manipulation of the user, to a control unit of theimage forming device 100. The display 110 and the control panel 120 maybe configured as a touch panel of one piece.

The printer unit 130 forms an image on the sheet, based on imageinformation which is generated by an image reading unit 160 or imageinformation which is received through a communication path. In addition,the printer unit 130 forms an image on the sheet, based on specificinformation which is generated by a code generation unit 150.

The printer unit 130 forms an image using, for example, the followingprocessing. The printer unit 130 forms an electrostatic latent image ona photosensitive drum, based on the image information and the controlinformation. The printer unit 130 forms a visible image by depositing adeveloper onto the electrostatic latent image. The developer is toner,ink, or the like for forming an image on paper. For example, thedeveloper may be ink which decolors when exposed to a solvent. Inaddition, the developer may be heat decolorable toner. The heatdecolorable toner decolors an image by applying a predeterminedtemperature. The solvent decolorable ink or heat decolorable toner areexamples of “decolorable recording materials”. Hereinafter, embodimentswill be described in the context of the heat decolorable toner.

The printer unit 130 transfers a visible image onto the sheet. Theprinter unit 130 fixes the visible image on the sheet by heating orpressing the sheet. The sheet on which an image is formed may becontained in the sheet containing portion 140 or may be manuallysupplied.

The sheet containing portion 140 contains a sheet which is used forimage formation of the printer unit 130.

FIG. 3 is a functional configuration diagram of the image forming device100. The image forming device 100 further includes the code generationunit 150, the image reading unit 160, a control unit 170, a storage unit180, and a communication unit 190, in addition to the display 110. Oneor more of the code generation unit 150, the image reading unit 160, andthe control unit 170 may include a processor such as a centralprocessing unit (CPU) which executes a program.

The code generation unit 150 generates a one-dimensional barcode inwhich information is encoded, or a two-dimensional code. Thetwo-dimensional code is, for example, a QR Code®. For example, the codegeneration unit 150 may generates the two-dimensional code containingimage identification information. The image identification informationis an example of “control information” used by the image processingsystem 1.

The image reading unit 160 is configured to read image information of aread target which is formed on the sheet by checking brightness anddarkness of light. The image reading unit 160 temporarily stores theimage information which is read in the storage unit 180. The controlunit 170 transmits the stored image information to the server device 300or another information processing device through the network, using thecommunication unit 190. The stored image information may be formed onthe sheet by the printer unit 130 as an image. The control unit 170 mayerase the image information which is stored in the storage unit 180 ofthe image forming device 100, after the image is formed on the sheet bythe printer unit 130. The communication unit 190 is a communicationinterface for communicating with the decoloring device 200 or the serverdevice 300.

FIG. 4 is a functional configuration diagram of the decoloring device200.

The decoloring device 200 includes a display 210, a control panel 220, apaper feeding unit 230, a decoloring unit 240, a discharge unit 250, animage reading unit 260, an image processing unit 270, a control unit280, and a communication unit 290. One or more of the image reading unit260, the image processing unit 270, and the control unit 280 may includea processor such as a CPU which executes a program. In addition, one ormore of the functional units may include hardware such as a large scaleintegration (LSI), an application specific integrated circuit (ASIC), ora field-programmable gate array (FPGA).

The decoloring device 200 decolors an image which is formed using heatdecolorable toner.

The image reading unit 260 and the image processing unit 270 areexamples of “reading units”.

The display 210 has the same functional configuration as the display110. The control panel 220 has the same functional configuration as thecontrol panel 120.

FIG. 5 is a schematic diagram of the decoloring device 200 according toan embodiment.

A transport unit (not illustrated) transports a sheet P throughtransport paths R1, R2, R3, and R4. The transport unit includes atransport roller and a motor. The transport roller and the motor aredisposed in each position of the transport paths R1, R2, R3, and R4. Themotor of the transport unit generates drive torque according to controlof the control unit 280. The drive torque rotates the transport roller.A sheet P is transported to each unit through the transport paths R1,R2, R3, and R4 by rotation of the transport roller.

The paper feeding unit 230 includes a table on which the sheet P isloaded. The paper feeding unit 230 includes a paper feeding roller whichis not illustrated. The sheet P which is loaded on the paper feedingunit 230 is taken in the transport path R1 by the paper feeding roller.Thereby, the sheet P is transported to the image reading unit 260through the transport path R1.

The image reading unit 260 reads an image formed on the sheet P which istransported through the transport path R1 or the transport path R3. Theimage reading unit 260 may be an image sensor such as an image scanner.The image reading unit 260 transmits image information read from thesheet P to the image processing unit 270.

The image processing unit 270 performs processing such as decoding withrespect to the image information which is read by the image reading unit260. The image processing unit 270 converts the image information into abit array or another format that can be recognized by a computer, basedon the results of processing such as decoding. The image processing unit270 reads the content of the information which is encoded in atwo-dimensional code described on the sheet P. The image processing unit270 recognizes identification information which is encoded in thetwo-dimensional code.

The decoloring unit 240 includes a heater which heats the sheet P. Theheater is embedded in a heating roller. The sheet P is transported bythe heating roller, and is heated by the heating roller. The heater mayheat the heating roller, using an induction heating method.

The decoloring unit 240 heats a surface of the transported sheet P to atemperature higher than a predetermined temperature. The predeterminedtemperature is a temperature which can decolor the image formed on thesheet P. Thereby, the decoloring unit 240 decolors the image which isformed on the sheet P.

As well, the method of decoloring the image formed on the sheet is notlimited to heating a surface of the sheet P. For example, methods oferasing an image may include exposing the image on the sheet,eliminating the image on the sheet and using a fluxing material forerasing the image on the sheet.

The discharge unit 250 transports the sheet P from the image readingunit 260 through the transport path R4. The discharge unit 250 containsthe transported sheet P in a cassette 252.

The communication unit 290 is an interface for communicating among theimage forming device 100, the server device 300, or the terminal device400.

FIG. 6 is a functional configuration diagram illustrating of the serverdevice 300.

The server device 300 includes a control unit 310, a storage unit 320,and a communication unit 330. The control unit 310 is an example of an“erasure control unit”. The communication unit 330 is an example of an“acquisition unit”.

The storage unit 320 includes, for example, a nonvolatile memory medium,such as, a read only memory (ROM), a flash memory, a hard disk drive(HDD), or an SD card, or a volatile memory medium, such as, a randomaccess memory (RAM) or a register.

The control unit 310 causes the storage unit 320 to store informationwhich is transmitted by the image forming device 100. The control unit310 controls the storage unit 320, based on the information which istransmitted from the decoloring device 200.

The storage unit 320 stores a program which is executed by a processor,and in addition, stores information which is transmitted by the imageforming device 100. In addition, the storage unit 320 stores informationwhich is transmitted by the terminal device 400 that communicates withthe network NW.

The communication unit 330 is an interface for communicating with theimage forming device 100, the decoloring device 200, or the terminaldevice 400.

Hereinafter, detailed processing which is performed by the imageprocessing system 1 will be described.

FIG. 7 is a sequence diagram illustrating an operation of the imageforming device 100 and the server device 300.

First, the image forming device 100 acquires image information of atarget whose image is formed on a sheet (ACT100). The image reading unit160 may acquire the image information of the target. In addition, theimage forming device 100 may acquire the image information of the targetfrom the storage unit 180, the server device 300, or the terminal device400 which is connected to the network NW.

Subsequently, the code generation unit 150 assigns identificationinformation to the image information of the target, and generates atwo-dimensional code that includes information which is obtained byencoding the identification information along with erasure information(ACT102).

The identification information is assigned to each target image, and isused for identifying the image information. The erasure information isused for instructing erasure of the image information from a storagedevice. The identification information and the erasure information is anexample of “control information”.

Subsequently, the printer unit 130 forms an image including atwo-dimensional code OB on a sheet (ACT104). The printer unit 130 formsthe image based on the image information which is generated by the imagereading unit 160 and the two-dimensional code which is generated by thecode generation unit 150. An image that is generated based on the imageinformation which is generated by the image reading unit 160 is anexample of a “second image”. An image which is generated based on thetwo-dimensional code is an example of a “first image”.

FIG. 8 is a diagram illustrating an example of an image which is formedby the printer unit 130.

The printer unit 130 forms the image information which is generated bythe image reading unit 160 on the sheet P. The printer unit 130 formsthe two-dimensional code OB (image) that includes the information whichis obtained by encoding the identification information and the erasureinformation, in a margin (printing area different from the imageinformation) of the sheet P.

The printer unit 130 may form the two-dimensional code OB (image) thatincludes information which is obtained by encoding the identificationinformation and the erasure information, in the printing area in whichthe image information is formed, so that the two images overlap eachother. For example, the printer unit 130 may form the image informationwhich is generated by the image reading unit 160 and the two-dimensionalcode OB (image) in the same printing area using different colors fromeach other so as to overlap each other. In this case, the printer unit130 forms the code OB and the image information on the sheet P such thatthe two-dimensional code OB and the image information can be identified,as woven pattern printing. Thereby, a user which uses the sheet P canrecognize that the two-dimensional code OB is formed on the sheet P.

Subsequently, the control unit 170 transmits the image information andthe identification information corresponding to the image information tothe server device 300 using the communication unit 190 (ACT106).

Subsequently, the control unit 310 receives the information which istransmitted by the communication unit 190, and stores the receivedinformation in the storage unit 320 (ACT108). The received informationis, for example, the image information and the identificationinformation corresponding to the image information. The control unit 310stores the received information in an information table TB of thestorage unit 320.

FIG. 9 is a diagram illustrating an example of the information table TBwhich is stored in the storage unit 320. For example, the imageidentification information is stored in the information table TB,corresponding to the image information. In addition, address informationindicating an address of the storage area in which the image informationis stored corresponds to the image information, in the information tableTB.

FIG. 10 is a sequence diagram illustrating an operation of thedecoloring device 200 and the server device 300. The processingdescribed in connection with FIG. 10 is performed on the sheet P, whichhas a two-dimensional code OB that is obtained by encoding theidentification information.

First, the image reading unit 260 reads the image including atwo-dimensional code which is formed on the sheet P (ACT200).

Subsequently, the decoloring unit 240 decolors the image which is formedon the sheet P (ACT202).

The image processing unit 270 determines whether the identificationinformation and the erasure information, encoded in the two-dimensionalcode OB based on the read image, can be acquired (ACT204).

In a case where the determination result is “NO” (ACT204; NO),processing of one routine of the present processing is terminated.

In a case where the determination result is “YES” (ACT204; YES),processing of ACT206 proceeds. That is, the control unit 280 queries auser on whether or not to erase the image information (ACT206).

FIG. 11 is a diagram illustrating an example of a query image whichqueries the user on whether or not to erase the image information.

The control unit 280 displays a query image QI on the display 210.

In addition, the query image QI includes, for example, a set area A1 anda set area A2. The set area A1 is, for example, an area for selectingerasure of the image information which is stored in the server device300. The set area A2 is an area for selecting storage of the imageinformation which is stored in the server device 300 without erasing theimage information.

A user selects erasure of the image information using the control panel220, for example by tapping the set area A1 of the display 210.

In a case where the user selects erasure of the image information(ACT206; YES), the control unit 280 performs processing of erasing theimage information from the server device 300 (ACT208). The imageinformation corresponds to the identification information which isacquired in ACT204.

In the processing of erasure, for example, the control unit 280transmits an instruction signal to the server device 300 instructingerasure of the image information. The instruction signal includes theidentification information corresponding to the image information to beerased.

In a case where the user selects no erasure of the image information(ACT208; NO) by tapping the set area A2, the processing of one routineof the present processing is terminated.

If the erasure instruction signal is transmitted from the decoloringdevice 200 to the server device 300, the control unit 310 erases theimage information which is stored in the storage unit 320 (ACT210).

For example, the control unit 310 receives the identificationinformation and the erasure information from the decoloring device 200.The control unit 310 erases the image information corresponding to thereceived identification information, from the storage unit 320.

FIG. 12 is a diagram schematically illustrating the information table TBin a case where the image information is erased.

For example, the control unit 310 erases image information “IM3”corresponding to identification information “03” which is stored in theinformation table TB, in a case where the control unit 310 receives theidentification information “03” and the erasure information. The controlunit 310 may transmit information indicating that the image information“IM3’ is erased, to the image forming device 100. In this case, thedecoloring device 200 displays the information indicating that the imageinformation “IM3” is erased, on the display 210.

In addition, the image forming device 100 may form image information ofa target on multiple sheets P. The two-dimensional code OB which isobtained by encoding the same identification information is formed onthe multiple sheets P. The decoloring device 200 transmits the sameidentification information to the server device 300 more than once, whenprocessing the multiple sheets P. In a case where the identificationinformation is received, the control unit 310 erases the imageinformation corresponding to the identification information. After theimage information is erased, the control unit 310 acquires the sameidentification information as the identification informationcorresponding to the erased image information. At this time, the controlunit 310 may transmit the information indicating that the imageinformation corresponding to the identification information is erased,to the decoloring device 200. The decoloring device 200 may display theinformation indicating that the image information is previously erased,on the display 210. It should be noted that different identificationinformation may be assigned to each sheet.

In the present embodiment, the erasure information which is encoded tothe two-dimensional barcode is described, but there are embodiments inwhich the erasure information is not encoded in the two-dimensionalbarcode. In such cases, identification information regarding imageinformation to be erased may be received from the decoloring device, andthe server device 300 may erase the image information corresponding tothe identification information from the storage unit 320, according tothe identification information which is received from the decoloringdevice 200.

A function of the image processing unit 270 may be included in theserver device 300. In this case, the decoloring device 200 transmitsinformation (image information) indicating an image on the sheet P tothe server device 300. An image processing unit of the server device 300receives the image information.

In the first embodiment described above, the decoloring device 200performs the processing of erasing the image information correspondingto control information, from the server device 300. Thereby, the imageprocessing system 1 can erase unnecessary image information from astorage device, after an image formed on the sheet P is erased.

Second Embodiment

In the first embodiment, identification information is encoded in thetwo-dimensional code OB. In a second embodiment, address information isencoded in the two-dimensional code OB. The address informationindicates a position corresponding to a storage area included in thestorage unit 320. The address information is an example of “controlinformation”.

FIG. 13 is a sequence diagram illustrating an operation of an imageforming device and a server device according to the second embodiment.

First, the image forming device 100 acquires image information of atarget (ACT300). Subsequently, the control unit 170 transmits the imageinformation to the server device 300 (ACT302). Subsequently, the controlunit 310 receives the image information which is transmitted by thecommunication unit 190, and stores the acquired image information in thestorage unit 320 (ACT304). The control unit 310 stores the receivedimage information and address information of a storage area thereof inan information table TB1 of the storage unit 320 so as to correspond toeach other.

FIG. 14 is a diagram illustrating an example of the information tableTB1 which is stored in the storage unit 320. For example, theinformation table TB1 includes a list of the image information and theaddress information corresponding to the image information.

Subsequently, the control unit 310 transmits the address information ofthe storage area which stores the received image information to theimage forming device 100 (ACT306), which receives the information.

The code generation unit 150 generates the two-dimensional code OB whichis obtained by encoding the address information and the erasureinformation (ACT308).

Subsequently, the printer unit 130 forms an image including thetwo-dimensional code OB on a sheet (ACT310). The image is formed basedon the image information which is generated by the image reading unit160 and the information which is generated by the code generation unit150. Thereby, the processing of one routine of the present processing isterminated.

Hereinafter, processing which is performed by the decoloring device 200and the server device 300 will be described.

First, the image reading unit 260 reads an image formed on the sheet P.Subsequently, the decoloring unit 240 decolors an image formed on thesheet P. Further, the image processing unit 270 acquires the addressinformation and the erasure information which is encoded in thetwo-dimensional code OB formed on the image. Subsequently, the controlunit 280 queries a user on whether or not to erase the image informationcorresponding to the acquired address information.

In a case where the user selects erasure of the image information, thecontrol unit 280 performs processing of erasing the image informationfrom the server device 300.

The processing of erasing is that the control unit 280 transmits aninstruction signal to the server device 300 instructing the serverdevice 300 to erase the image information. For example, the instructionsignal includes the address information corresponding to the imageinformation to be erased.

In a case where the user selects no erasure of the image information,the processing of one routine of the present processing is terminated.

Subsequently, if selected by the user, the control unit 310 erases theimage information which is stored in the storage unit 320, based on thecontrol from the decoloring device 200. For example, the control unit310 receives an instruction signal including the address information andthe erasure information from the decoloring device 200. The control unit310 erases the image information, which is stored in the storage area,corresponding to the address information which is included in theacquired instruction signal, from the storage unit 320.

In the second embodiment described above, address information is usedinstead of identification information. The image processing system 1 canspecify image information to be erased, base on the address information,and thus, processing is simplified.

Third Embodiment

In the first embodiment, identification information is encoded to thetwo-dimensional code OB. In a third embodiment, a two-dimensional codeOB1 which is obtained by encoding authority information is furtherformed on the sheet P, in addition to the two-dimensional code OB whichis obtained by encoding the identification information. The authorityinformation indicates authority of erasing the image information that isstored in the server device 300. The authority information is an exampleof information which is included in the “control information”.

FIG. 15 is a diagram illustrating examples of sheets P1 to Pn which areused in the third embodiment. “n” is an arbitrary natural number.Hereinafter, in a case where the sheets P1 to Pn are not intended to bedistinguished from each other in the process described, the “n” sheetsare referred to collectively as the sheet P.

The image forming device 100 forms an image on the multiple sheets P1 toPn from the image information of a target. The image forming device 100forms, for example, the two-dimensional code OB1 which is obtained byencoding the authority information and the two-dimensional code OB whichis obtained by encoding the identification information, on the sheet P1.The image forming device 100 forms the two-dimensional code OB which isobtained by encoding the identification information, for example, on thesheets P2 to Pn.

The image forming device 100 may form the two-dimensional code OB whichis obtained by encoding the identification information and the authorityinformation, on the sheet P1.

FIG. 16 is a sequence diagram illustrating an operation of a decoloringdevice 200 according to the third embodiment.

First, the image reading unit 260 reads the image formed on the sheet P(ACT400). Subsequently, the decoloring unit 240 decolors the imageformed on the sheet P (ACT402).

Subsequently, the image processing unit 270 determines whether or notthe authority information which is encoded to the two-dimensional codeOB1 formed on the image can be acquired (ACT404).

In a case where the determination result is “NO” (ACT404; NO),processing of one routine of the present processing is terminated.

In a case where the determination result is “YES” (ACT404; YES), thecontrol unit 280 performs the following processing. The control unit 280determines whether or not a user has authority of being able to erasethe image information, based on the acquired authority information(ACT406).

The control unit 280 displays an image which requires input operation ofa password or identification information assigned to an operator, on thedisplay 210.

The control unit 280 acquires the password which is inputted to thecontrol panel 220 by the operator or the identification informationassigned to the operator. Hereinafter, a case where the control unit 280acquires a password will be described.

The control unit 280 determines whether or not the password stored in astorage unit of the decoloring device 200 coincides with a passwordinputted by the operator. In a case where the passwords coincide witheach other, the control unit 280 determines that the operator whichperforms the input operation is an operator having authority to erasethe image information. In a case where the passwords do not coincidewith each other, the control unit 280 determines that the operator whichperforms the input operation is an operator having no authority to erasethe image information.

In a case where the determination result is “NO” (ACT406; NO),processing of one routine of the present processing is terminated.

In a case where the determination result is “YES” (ACT406; YES), theimage processing unit 270 determines whether or not the identificationinformation which is encoded in the two-dimensional code OB formed onthe image can be acquired (ACT408).

In a case where the determination result is “NO” (ACT408; NO),processing of one routine of the present processing is terminated.

In a case where the determination result is “YES” (ACT408; YES), thecontrol unit 280 queries the user on whether or not to erase the imageinformation (ACT410). For example, the control unit 280 performs queryby displaying a query image on the display 210.

In a case where the determination result is “NO” (ACT410; NO),processing of one routine of the present processing is terminated. Forexample, in a case where the user selects no erasure of the imageinformation, the processing of one routine of the present processing isterminated.

In a case where the determination result is “YES” (ACT410; YES), thecontrol unit 280 performs processing of erasing the image informationfrom the server device 300 (ACT412). The processing of erasing indicatesthat the control unit 280 transmits the identification information whichis acquired in ACT408 and an instruction signal which instructs erasureof the image information, to the server device 300. A case where thedetermination result is “YES” is, for example, a case where the userselects erasure of the image information. Thereby, the processing of oneroutine of the present processing is terminated.

The server device 300 receives the identification information which istransmitted by the aforementioned processing and the instruction signalwhich instructs erasure of the image information. The control unit 310erases the image information which is stored in the storage unit 320,based on the received information (ACT414).

According to the third embodiment described above, when the decoloringdevice 200 determines that the operator has authority of erasing theimage information, the decoloring device 200 transmits the instructionsignal which instructs erasure of the image information to the serverdevice 300. Thus, the image processing system 1 can perform precisemanagement of the image information which is stored in a storage device.As a result, convenience for a user is increased.

Fourth Embodiment

In the first embodiment, the decoloring device 200 transmits aninstruction signal which instructs erasure of image information to theserver device 300. In an image processing system 1 according to a fourthembodiment, the decoloring device 200 transmits image informationcorresponding to an image which is formed on the sheet P to the serverdevice 300. The server device 300 stores the transmitted imageinformation in the storage unit 320.

FIG. 17 is a sequence diagram illustrating an operation of thedecoloring device 200 according to the fourth embodiment.

First, the image reading unit 260 reads an image formed on the sheet P(ACT500). Subsequently, the decoloring unit 240 decolors the imageformed on the sheet P (ACT502).

The image processing unit 270 determines whether or not identificationinformation which is encoded in the two-dimensional code OB formed onthe image can be acquired (ACT504).

In a case where the determination result is “NO” (ACT504; NO),processing of one routine of the present processing is terminated.

In a case where the determination result is “YES” (ACT504; YES), thecontrol unit 280 queries a user on whether or not to remember the imageinformation (ACT506). For example, the control unit 280 performs queryby displaying a query image on the display 210.

In a case where the determination result is “NO” (ACT506; NO), meaningno remembrance of the image information, the processing of one routineof the present processing is terminated.

In a case where the determination result is “YES” (ACT506; YES), thecontrol unit 280 performs the following processing. The control unit 280transmits an instruction signal which instructs remembrance of the imageinformation to the server device 300 (ACT508). In this case, the controlunit 280 transmits the identification information which is acquired inACT504 and the image information to the server device 300. Based on theidentification information received from the decoloring device 200, theserver device 300 overwrites the image information which was previouslystored in the storage unit (ACT510). Thereby, the processing of oneroutine of the present processing is terminated.

According to the fourth embodiment described above, the decoloringdevice 200 determines whether or not to store the image information inthe server device 300, based on the identification information. As aresult, convenience of a user is increased.

The image processing system 1 may not include the server device 300. Inthis case, the image forming device 100 stores the image information ofa target in the storage unit 180. In a case where control information isacquired, the decoloring device 200 transmits the control information tothe image forming device 100. In a case of receiving the controlinformation from the decoloring device 200, the image forming device 100erases the image information corresponding to the control informationwhich is stored in the storage unit 180.

In addition, the decoloring device 200 may be included in the imageforming device 100 and the decoloring device 200 and the image formingdevice 100 may be function as one device.

According to at least one of the embodiments described above, adecoloring device includes a reading unit configured to read controlinformation for controlling a storage device from a first image formedon a predetermined area of a sheet; a decoloring unit configured todecolor a portion, or the entirety, of a second image formed on thesheet using a decolorable recording material; and a control unit thaterases the data of the second image from the storage unit, based on thecontrol information, in a case where the decoloring unit decolors thesecond image. Accordingly, it is possible to erase unnecessary imageinformation from the storage unit, after the image formed on the sheetis decolored.

While certain embodiments have been described, these embodiments havebeen presented by way of example only, and are not intended to limit thescope of the inventions. Indeed, the novel embodiments described hereinmay be embodied in a variety of other forms; furthermore, variousomissions, substitutions and changes in the form of the embodimentsdescribed herein may be made without departing from the spirit of theinventions. The accompanying claims and their equivalents are intendedto cover such forms or modifications as would fall within the scope andspirit of the inventions.

What is claimed is:
 1. An image processing method, comprising: in adecoloring device: reading control information from a first image formedin a predetermined area of a sheet; decoloring at least a portion of asecond image that is different from the first image and formed on thesheet using a decolorable recording material; and controlling erasing ofdata of the second image from a first storage device connected to thedecoloring device based on the control information if the second imageis decolored and transmitting an instruction signal for instructingerasure of the data of the second image; and in a server device:receiving the instruction signal from the decoloring device; and erasingthe data of the second image from a second storage device based on theinstruction signal.
 2. The image processing method according to claim 1,further comprising: in the decoloring device: acquiring addressinformation included in the control information, the address informationindicating an address of a storage area at which the data of the secondimage is stored in the second storage device; and transmitting theacquired address information; and in a server device: receiving theaddress information from the decoloring device; and using the addressinformation in erasing the data of the second image in the secondstorage device.
 3. The image processing method according to claim 1,further comprising: in the decoloring device: acquiring authorityinformation included in the control information, the authorityinformation indicating an authority for erasing the data of the secondimage from the second storage device; and transmitting the authorityinformation; and in a server device: receiving the authority informationfrom the decoloring device; and erasing the data of the second imagefrom the second storage device according to the authority information.4. The image processing method according to claim 1, further comprising:causing a display to display a query image for querying a user regardingwhether the data of the second image is to be erased from the secondstorage device if the second image has been decolored.
 5. The imageprocessing method according to claim 4, further comprising: in theserver device, erasing the second image data from the second storagedevice after the user indicates the data of the second image is to beerased.
 6. The image processing method according to claim 1, wherein thedecoloring device is connected to the server device through a network.7. The image processing method according to claim 1, wherein the firstimage is a code image obtained by encoding the control information. 8.An image processing method, comprising: reading control information froma first image formed in a predetermined area of a sheet having a secondimage different from the first image that is formed on the sheet using adecolorable recording material; in a decoloring device, decoloring atleast a portion of the second image; based on the control informationread from the first image, controlling erasing of data of the secondimage from a first storage device connected to the decoloring deviceafter the second image has been decolored and transmitting aninstruction signal for instructing erasure of the data of the secondimage from a second storage device connected to the decoloring device;and erasing the data of the second image from the second storage devicebased on the instruction signal.
 9. The image processing method of claim8, wherein the second storage device is connected to a server devicethat receives the transmitted instruction signal.